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{{Distinguish|text=[[CBS Films]], CBS's later motion picture division}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = CBS Theatrical Films
| name = CBS Theatrical Films
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| traded_as =
| traded_as =
| genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies -->
| genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies -->
| fate = Closed; assets owned by [[CBS|CBS Broadcasting Inc.]] and distributed by [[Paramount Global]]
| fate = closed
| predecessor = [[Cinema Center Films]]
| predecessor = [[Cinema Center Films]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1979}}
| successor = [[CBS Films]]<br>[[Paramount Pictures]]
| foundation = 1979
| founder =
| founder =
| defunct = {{dts|1985|11}}
| defunct = {{Start date and age|1985|11}}
| location_city =
| location_city =
| location_country = [[United States]]
| location_country = [[United States]]
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| area_served = [[World]]wide
| area_served = [[World]]wide
| key_people =
| key_people =
| industry = [[movie]]
| industry =
| products = [[film]]s
| products =
| services =
| services =
| revenue =
| revenue =
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| owner =
| owner =
| num_employees =
| num_employees =
| parent = [[CBS]] Inc.
| parent = [[CBS]]
| divisions =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| subsid =
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'''CBS Theatrical Films''', also as '''CBS Theatrical Films Group''', was the film production branch of the U.S. television network, [[CBS]], which was active from 1979 to 1985.
'''CBS Theatrical Films''', also as '''CBS Theatrical Films Group''', was the film production branch of the U.S. television network, [[CBS]], which was active from 1979 to 1985.


CBS was also a partner in [[TriStar Pictures]], which started as a joint venture with [[Columbia Pictures]] (owned then by [[The Coca-Cola Company]]), and [[Time, Inc]].'s [[HBO]]. CBS was an owner in TriStar from the start in 1982 to 1985.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lumenick|first=Lou|title=CBS And Theatrical Films: If At First You Don't Succeed...|url=https://nypost.com/2009/05/16/cbs-and-theatrical-films-if-at-first-you-dont-succeed/|accessdate=27 July 2012|newspaper=NY Post.com|date=May 16, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/16/business/cbs-sells-stake-in-tri-star-inc.html|title=CBS Sells Stake In Tri-Star Inc. | work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=16 November 1985}}</ref>
CBS was also a partner in [[TriStar Pictures]], which started as a joint venture with [[Columbia Pictures]] (owned then by [[The Coca-Cola Company]]), and [[Time, Inc]].'s [[Home Box Office, Inc.|HBO]]. CBS was an owner in TriStar from the start in 1982 to 1985.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/16/business/cbs-sells-stake-in-tri-star-inc.html|title=CBS Sells Stake In Tri-Star Inc. | work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=16 November 1985}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
CBS began its theatrical films operation in 1979, headed by Donald March, and turned the operation into the separate CBS Theatrical Films division in 1980.<ref>{{cite news |title= CBS turns theatrical films operations into division |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=1980-12-02 }}</ref> In March 1980, the unit was promoted to group level, same as the broadcast and records groups, as CBS Theatrical Films Group with Michael Levy as group president reporting directly to CBS president Thomas H. Wyman.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Curran|first1=Trisha|title=CBS Wants to Star In the Movies--As One of the Major Film Producers | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/28/business/cbs-wants-to-star-in-the-movies-as-one-of-the-major-film-producers.html|accessdate=October 5, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=June 28, 1981}}</ref> Before 1985, Self was president of production.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Mike|title=Former Producer, Fox TV Exec William Self Dies|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/producer-fox-tv-exec-william-47206|accessdate=September 9, 2016|work=Hollywood Reporter|date=November 18, 2010}}</ref> None of its releases were commercial successes.<ref name="os">{{cite news |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-11-23/lifestyle/0340460063_1_movie-business-theatrical-films-abc-motion |title=Abc, Cbs Drop Movie Interests |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=November 23, 1985 }}</ref>
CBS began its theatrical films operation in 1979, headed by Donald March, and turned the operation into the separate CBS Theatrical Films division on December 2, 1980.<ref>{{cite news |title= CBS turns theatrical films operations into division |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=1980-12-02 }}</ref> In March 1980, the unit was promoted to group level, same as the broadcast and records groups, as CBS Theatrical Films Group with Michael Levy as group president reporting directly to CBS president Thomas H. Wyman.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Curran|first1=Trisha|title=CBS Wants to Star In the Movies--As One of the Major Film Producers | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/28/business/cbs-wants-to-star-in-the-movies-as-one-of-the-major-film-producers.html|accessdate=October 5, 2017|work=The New York Times|date=June 28, 1981}}</ref> Before 1985, Self was president of production.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barnes|first1=Mike|title=Former Producer, Fox TV Exec William Self Dies|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/producer-fox-tv-exec-william-47206|accessdate=September 9, 2016|work=Hollywood Reporter|date=November 18, 2010}}</ref> None of its releases were commercial successes.<ref name="os">{{cite news |last=Harmetz |first=Aljean |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1985-11-23/lifestyle/0340460063_1_movie-business-theatrical-films-abc-motion |title=Abc, Cbs Drop Movie Interests |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=November 23, 1985 }}</ref>


In December 1984, it was merged with the CBS Worldwide Enterprises branch to form CBS Productions (unrelated to [[CBS Productions|the later production company of the same name]]).<ref>{{Cite news|date=1984-12-17|title=CBS structures new marketing unit|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-12-17-OCR-Page-0080.pdf|access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref>
On December 17, 1984, it was merged with the CBS Worldwide Enterprises branch to form CBS Productions (unrelated to [[CBS Productions|the later production company of the same name]]).<ref>{{Cite news|date=1984-12-17|title=CBS structures new marketing unit|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]]|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/84-OCR/BC-1984-12-17-OCR-Page-0080.pdf|access-date=2021-07-30}}</ref> In 1985, CBS Productions decided to wind down their operations, which was fully closed in November 1985.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1985-11-20|title=CBS Winding Down|page=3|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>


===Closure===
===Closure===
Several factors contributed to the closure of CBS Theatrical Films. As a so-called [[wikt:boutique|boutique]], it was disadvantaged because it was usually only offered left over films after the major studios had selected the more likely commercial successes. [[Television movie]]s did better in the ratings than theater films already released via cable and video. With additional startup boutiques, the market was overcrowded causing box office strain at the same time movie production costs doubled to $10 million with marketing matching that level. Another factor was that as a boutique, CBS Theatrical Films did not have a distribution system, so had to release its films through major studios, which sometimes resulted in disadvantageous release dates.<ref name ="os" /> CBS announced CBS Theatrical Films's closure in November 1985.<ref name="os"/> ''[[The Challenge (1982 film)|The Challenge]]'' and their final production ''[[The Lightship]]'' were released through [[Embassy Pictures]] and [[Castle Hill Productions]] respectively. Today, [[Paramount Pictures]] owns the rights to the library, with certain films licensed to [[Kino Lorber]].
Several factors contributed to the closure of CBS Theatrical Films. As a so-called [[wikt:boutique|boutique]], it was disadvantaged because it was usually only offered left over films after the major studios had selected the more likely commercial successes. [[Television movie]]s did better in the ratings than theater films already released via cable and video. With additional startup boutiques, the market was overcrowded causing box office strain at the same time movie production costs doubled to $10 million with marketing matching that level.
Another factor was that as a boutique, CBS Theatrical Films did not have a distribution system, so had to release its films through major studios, which sometimes resulted in disadvantageous release dates.<ref name ="os" /> CBS announced CBS Theatrical Films's closure in November 1985.<ref name="os"/> After the closure, CBS Productions' assets were sold to international film backer J&M Film Sales, which included all the foreign licensing contracts that were previously handled by the studio, and four planned CBS titles were sold to J&M Film Sales on May 28, 1986.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1986-05-28|title=Leftover CBS Prods. Taken Over By J&M|page=28|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> ''[[The Challenge (1982 film)|The Challenge]]'' and their final production ''[[The Lightship]]'' were released through [[Embassy Pictures]] and [[Castle Hill Productions]] respectively. Today, [[CBS Media Ventures]] distributes the library for television, [[Paramount Pictures]] holds theatrical rights, and home entertainment rights are licensed by [[CBS Home Entertainment]] to [[Paramount Home Entertainment]] and [[Kino Lorber]] for certain films.


==Films==
==Films==
{{Main|List of films produced by CBS}}
{{Main|List of films produced by CBS}}

==External links==
* {{imdb company|id=0123634|company=CBS Theatrical Films}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{Paramount Global}}
{{CBS}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:CBS Television Network]]
[[Category:CBS]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Film production companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1979]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies established in 1979]]

Latest revision as of 20:14, 17 August 2024

CBS Theatrical Films
Company typeDivision
PredecessorCinema Center Films
Founded1979; 45 years ago (1979)
DefunctNovember 1985; 38 years ago (1985-11)
FateClosed; assets owned by CBS Broadcasting Inc. and distributed by Paramount Global
Headquarters
Area served
Worldwide
ParentCBS

CBS Theatrical Films, also as CBS Theatrical Films Group, was the film production branch of the U.S. television network, CBS, which was active from 1979 to 1985.

CBS was also a partner in TriStar Pictures, which started as a joint venture with Columbia Pictures (owned then by The Coca-Cola Company), and Time, Inc.'s HBO. CBS was an owner in TriStar from the start in 1982 to 1985.[1]

History

[edit]

CBS began its theatrical films operation in 1979, headed by Donald March, and turned the operation into the separate CBS Theatrical Films division on December 2, 1980.[2] In March 1980, the unit was promoted to group level, same as the broadcast and records groups, as CBS Theatrical Films Group with Michael Levy as group president reporting directly to CBS president Thomas H. Wyman.[3] Before 1985, Self was president of production.[4] None of its releases were commercial successes.[5]

On December 17, 1984, it was merged with the CBS Worldwide Enterprises branch to form CBS Productions (unrelated to the later production company of the same name).[6] In 1985, CBS Productions decided to wind down their operations, which was fully closed in November 1985.[7]

Closure

[edit]

Several factors contributed to the closure of CBS Theatrical Films. As a so-called boutique, it was disadvantaged because it was usually only offered left over films after the major studios had selected the more likely commercial successes. Television movies did better in the ratings than theater films already released via cable and video. With additional startup boutiques, the market was overcrowded causing box office strain at the same time movie production costs doubled to $10 million with marketing matching that level.

Another factor was that as a boutique, CBS Theatrical Films did not have a distribution system, so had to release its films through major studios, which sometimes resulted in disadvantageous release dates.[5] CBS announced CBS Theatrical Films's closure in November 1985.[5] After the closure, CBS Productions' assets were sold to international film backer J&M Film Sales, which included all the foreign licensing contracts that were previously handled by the studio, and four planned CBS titles were sold to J&M Film Sales on May 28, 1986.[8] The Challenge and their final production The Lightship were released through Embassy Pictures and Castle Hill Productions respectively. Today, CBS Media Ventures distributes the library for television, Paramount Pictures holds theatrical rights, and home entertainment rights are licensed by CBS Home Entertainment to Paramount Home Entertainment and Kino Lorber for certain films.

Films

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "CBS Sells Stake In Tri-Star Inc". The New York Times. Associated Press. 16 November 1985.
  2. ^ "CBS turns theatrical films operations into division". The Wall Street Journal. 1980-12-02.
  3. ^ Curran, Trisha (June 28, 1981). "CBS Wants to Star In the Movies--As One of the Major Film Producers". The New York Times. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  4. ^ Barnes, Mike (November 18, 2010). "Former Producer, Fox TV Exec William Self Dies". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Harmetz, Aljean (November 23, 1985). "Abc, Cbs Drop Movie Interests". Orlando Sentinel.
  6. ^ "CBS structures new marketing unit" (PDF). Broadcasting. 1984-12-17. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  7. ^ "CBS Winding Down". Variety. 1985-11-20. p. 3.
  8. ^ "Leftover CBS Prods. Taken Over By J&M". Variety. 1986-05-28. p. 28.